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Lao Tzu is one of the most important men in history. During his life, Lau Tzu inspired many people, even the great philosopher Confucius, but he inspired even more people after his death. His teachings brought to public eye from his book The Tao Tai Ching inspired followings of millions first throughout Asia, and eventually the world. His teachings lead to over five religious sects that inspired the world.
Lao Tzu was born around the year 604 B.C. in Louyang China to the name Li Erh with a head of completely white hair. The was the name Lao Tzu given to him later on in life when he worked for the King of Zhou in Louyang as the keeper of the imperial archives. It translates to mean "The Old Master." Lao Tzu was only one of his many names including: Lao Zi, Elder Dan, Senior Lord, Senior Lord Li, Senior lord Taishang, Taoist Lord Lao Zi, Lao Tse, Lao Tze, Shengzu (his temple name), and Emperor Xuanyuan. During his time as the keeper of the imperial archives, Lao Tzu studied the archive's books avidly. Being in the Shi, or keeper of archives and sacred books, Lao Tzu gained a great deal of knowledge over time in which he used in his wisdom and philosophy. Some of the topics he would have most likely have been knowledgeable in were Astrology and divination. A famous Chinese philosopher named Confusion heard about Lao Tzu and decided to travel to Louyang to meet him. Confuses met Lao Tzu when Lao was just about to browse through the library scrolls in the royal archives. Both of them discussed ritual and propriety, which both make up the cornerstone to Confucianism over a few months. Upon reaching Eighty years of age Lao Tzu decided to leave Louyang and go on a journey to the desert. Lao Tzu made the decision because he felt depressed by what he had seen over his time working for the king, such as men refusing to follow the path of natural goodness. In Lau's understanding that came from self-teaching himself with the scrolls accumulated over centuries in the library he saw that staying where he was he would get no satisfaction in life. He set out for the western border of china going towards Tibet. Upon reaching the border of Ch'in, a guard stopped him. That guard asked him to record his teaching because he knew that Lau Tzu would not return. Lau Tzu decided for three days to compose a book of all his wisdom. The book was an amazing 5250 word two-sectioned piece of literature named The Tao Te Ching, meaning The Book of The Way. After Writing the Tao Te Ching Lao Tzu Disappeared into the wilderness and was never seen again. The Tao Te Ching is a book containing the wisdom of Lao Tzu and his teachings to help guide others to follow "The Way." In his writings, Lao Tzu uses the name "Sage" a lot. This name represents the idealistic man. It has many teachings. One teaching Lao Tzu conveys in the Tao Te Ching is that you can be strong without being forceful. An example of this is Lao saying: "The highest excellence is like (that of) water. The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike. Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao. The excellence of a residence is in (the suitability of) the place; that of the mind is in abysmal stillness; that of associations is in their being with the virtuous; that of government is in its securing good order; that of (the conduct of) affairs is in its ability; and that of (the initiation of) any movement is in its timeliness. And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle (about his low position), no one finds fault with him." Lao Tzu also teaches against pride; an example of this is "It is better to leave a vessel unfilled, than to attempt to carry it when it is full. If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness. When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe. When wealth and honors lead to arrogance, this brings its evil on itself. When the work is done, and one's name is becoming distinguished, to withdraw into obscurity is the way of Heaven." Therefore the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the belly, and not the (insatiable longing of the) eyes. He puts from him the latter, and prefers to seek the former." Lao Tzu describes human nature in the Tao Te Ching, like when he said, "When we renounce learning we have no troubles. The (ready) 'yes,' and (flattering) 'yea;'-- Small is the difference they display. But mark their issues, good and ill; -- What space the gulf between shall fill? What all men fear is indeed to be feared; but how wide and without end is the range of questions (asking to be discussed)! The multitude of men look satisfied and pleased; as if enjoying a full banquet, as if mounted on a tower in spring. I alone seem listless and still, my desires having as yet given no indication of their presence. I am like an infant which has not yet smiled. I look dejected and forlorn, as if I had no home to go to. The multitude of men all have enough and to spare. I alone seem to have lost everything. My mind is that of a stupid man; I am in a state of chaos. Ordinary men look bright and intelligent, while I alone seem to be benighted. They look full of discrimination, while I alone am dull and confused. I seem to be carried about as on the sea, drifting as if I had nowhere to rest. All men have their spheres of action, while I alone seem dull and incapable, like a rude borderer. (Thus) I alone am different from other men, but I value the nursing-mother (the Tao)." Lao Tzu also sometimes uses rhythmic patterns like in chapter 21 when he said, "The grandest forms of active force From Tao come, their only source. Who can of Tao the nature tell? Our sight it flies, our touch as well. Eluding sight, eluding touch, the forms of things all in it crouch; eluding touch, eluding sight, there are their semblances, all right. Profound it is, dark and obscure; Things' essences all there endure. Those essences the truth enfold of what, when seen, shall then be told. Now it is so; 'twas so of old. Its name--what passes not away; so, in their beautiful array, Things form and never know decay. How know I that it is so with all the beauties of existing things? By this (nature of the Tao)." Another lesson Lao Tzu often uses is being modest and thankful such as when he says "The partial becomes complete; the crooked, straight; the empty, full; the worn out, new. He whose (desires) are few gets them; he whose (desires) are many goes astray. Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing (of humility), and manifests it to all the world. He is free from self- display, and therefore he shines; from self-assertion, and therefore he is distinguished; from self-boasting, and therefore his merit is acknowledged; from self-complacency, and therefore he acquires superiority. It is because he is thus free from striving that therefore no one in the world is able to strive with him. That saying of the ancients that 'the partial becomes complete' was not vainly spoken:--all real completion is comprehended under It." or, when he said, "He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm; he who stretches his legs does not walk (easily). (So), he who displays himself does not shine; he who asserts his own views is not distinguished; he who vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowledged; he who is self- conceited has no superiority allowed to him. Such conditions, viewed from the standpoint of the Tao, are like remnants of food, or a tumor on the body, which all dislike. Hence those who pursue (the course) of the Tao do not adopt and allow them." One of the biggest lessons Lao Tzu uses in the Tao Tai Ching is the flow of Chi or the energy of life. One instance he uses this is in is chapter 25 when he says, "There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence before Heaven and Earth. How still it was and formless, standing alone, and undergoing no change, reaching everywhere and in no danger (of being exhausted)! It may be regarded as the Mother of all things. I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Tao (the Way or Course). Making an effort (further) to give it a name I call it The Great. Great, it passes on (in constant flow). Passing on, it becomes remote. Having become remote, it returns. Therefore, the Tao is great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; and the (sage) king is also great. In the universe there are four that are great, and the (sage) king is one of them. Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its being what it is." Ying Yang is a philosophy that often shows up in The Tao Tai Ching. Ying Yang is the rhythm of life, which flows throughout the entire universe, is the action of complementary principles Yin and Yang. The symbol explains that when Yin reaches its climax it recedes in to Yang, then after Yang reaches its climax it recedes in to Yin in an eternal cycle flowing in everything. The dots inside the white and black halves indicate that within each half a piece of the other half exists, showing that Yin cannot exist without Yang and Yang cannot exist without Yin. Yin is the quiet, intuitive, female, receiving force that is associated with earth. The earth is the source of life by providing us with what we need to survive. Yin is connected with: Night, Dark, Rain, Water, Cold, Winter, Autumn, Odd Numbers, The Moon, North, West, Right, Down, Intuition, Passive, Static, Contraction, Decreasing, Conservative, Traditional, Valley, River, Curve, Soft, Solidifying, the Psychological World, Dragon, Kidneys, Heart, Liver, and the Lungs. Yang is the strong, creative, male, giving force that is connected with heaven; Heaven above us is always in motion and brings about change. Yang is associated with Day, Light, Sunshine, Fire, Heat, Summer, Spring, Even Numbers, The Sun, South, East, Left, Up, Intellect, Active, Dynamic, Expansion, Increasing, Innovative, Reformative, Mountain, Desert, Straight Line, Hard, Dissolving, the Physical World, Tiger, Bladder, Intestines, and Skin. One example of Ying Yang in the Toa Tai Ching is "All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what ugliness is; they all know the skill of the skilful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what the want of skill is. So it is that existence and non-existence give birth the one to m(the idea of) the other; that difficulty and ease produce the one (the idea of) the other; that length and shortness fashion out the one the figure of the other; that (the ideas of) height and lowness arise from the contrast of the one with the other; that the musical notes and tones become harmonious through the relation of one with another; and that being before and behind give the idea of one following another. Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech. All things spring up, and there is not one which declines to show itself; they grow, and there is no claim made for their ownership; they go through their processes, and there is no expectation (of a reward for the results). The work is accomplished, and there is no resting in it (as an achievement). The work is done, but how no one can see; 'Tis this that makes the power not cease to be. Confucianism and Taoism are both originally from China and share some striking similarities. Both existed for around 500 years before Buddhism. Native Chinese customs and traditions had an impact on how both philosophies are formed. Both philosophies had an effect on latter Indian philosophies. Confucianism and Taoism are now practiced as Neo Confucianism and Neo Taoism. Both philosophies are based upon the compiled teachings of previous followers of the philosophies. They are each considered a part of Chinese culture and heritage. Su ma Ch'ien a famous Chinese historian described them both as Hundred Schools.
Tai Chi is a form of (usually) slow moving Martial Arts that can be used as self-defense, relaxation, or general exercise. Taoism and Tai chi may seem extremely far apart, but they are actually very similar. T'ai chi is based on the Chinese principle of yin and yang. Many of Lao Tzu's lessons such as "Yield and overcome; Bend and be straight.", "He who stands of tiptoe is not steady. He who strides cannot maintain the pace."; "Returning is the motion of the Tao. Yielding is the way of the Tao. What is firmly established cannot be uprooted. What is firmly grasped cannot slip away.", "Stiff and unbending is the principle of death. Gentle and yielding is the principle of life. Thus an Army without flexibility never wins a battle. A tree that is unbending is easily broken. The hard and strong will fall. The soft and weak will overcome." Have inspired Tai Chi. Chuang Tzu, a later Taoist philosopher gave further inspiration to Tai Chi by saying "The pure man of old slept without dreams and woke without anxiety. He ate without indulging in sweet tastes and breathed deep breaths. The pure man draws breaths from the depths of his heels, the multitude only from their throats." and "[The sage] would not lean forward or backward to accommodate [things]. This is called tranquility on disturbance, (which means) that it is especially in the midst of disturbance that tranquility becomes perfect." Both of these examples of quotes from both Lau Tzu and Chuang Tzu show examples of beliefs usually held by those who practice Tai Chi.
After Lau Tzu and Chuang Tzu Taoism continued to grow and flourish. A few Chinese philosophers that helped Taoism prosper were Yang Hsiung, Wang Ch'ung, Huai-Nan, Tzu Lieh Tzu, and Yang Chu. Yang Hsiung combined classical Taoism with rudiments of Confucian ethics. Wang Ch'ung did the same thing but He was less interested in morality and more occupied with human institutions. Hui-Nan, a prince of Huai-Nan, gave Taoism further fame. Tzu LiehTzu and Yang Chu revised some original Taoist beliefs and modernized them. Taoism later reached a religious standpoint. The Religious Taoism had its own temples, priests, rites, and symbolic images. The religion emerged into sever sects including The Heavenly Masters, The Supreme Peace, The Mao-Shan, The Ling-Pao, and The Ch'uan-chen. The Taoist deities, Yu-huang (The Jade Emperor), Yuan-shih T'ien-tsun (The First Principal), San-ch'ing (Three Pure Ones), San-kuan (Three Officials), T'ien-shih, Pa-hsien (Eight Immortals: Lu Tung-pin, Ts'ao Kuo-chiu, Chang Kuo-lao, Li T'ieh-kuai, Ho Hsien-ku, Han Hsiang-tsu, and Han Chung-li), were often venerated as gods and astrology along with divination were often added to the religious sects due to popular culture. Taoism eventually became Neo Taoism in the third and fourth centuries. Neo Taoism was split into two sects, The Pure Conversation School, which was a group of younger thinkers, and poets who explored issues of Taoism through poetry and interpretation and Metaphysical School, which was made up of philosophers who wanted to both expand Taoism and to reconcile Taoism and Confucianism. Taoism is a popular practiced belief all over the world even today.
During his life, Lau Tzu inspired many people, even the great philosopher Confucius, but he inspired even more people after his death. His teachings brought to public eye from his book The Tao Tai Ching inspired followings of millions first throughout Asia, and eventually the world. His teachings lead to over five religious sects that inspired the world. His inspiration writings lead Taoism through thousands of years, touching the hearts and souls of all who followed him. His peaceful concepts inspired religions, other philosophers, and the writer of this answer. Therefore, Lao Tzu is one of the most inspirational and important people in history. Works Cited
# J. Legge. Tao Te Ching. Sacred Books of the East, Vol 39 (1891): 1. Friday, December 15, 2006
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How is lao-tsu pronounced?
Lao-tzoo
What are the release dates for Then We Got Help - 2009 She'll Lao Tsu You 2-5?
Then We Got Help - 2009 She'll Lao Tsu You 2-5 was released on: USA: 8 April 2011
How can you tell or know for sure if your dog is either a Greek Domestic Shorthaired Hound-a dog is shorthaired but looks like this dog or if he is an American Lao Tsu Pugg?
Tammy Sue
What is the translation for nyu nan shin?
nyu nan shin means a "smooth, natural mind" source: Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English
What is the word 'annihilation' when translated from English to Japanese?
'ze tsu me tsu' ' zen me tsu'
What does tsu mean?
Tsu means port in Japanese.
When was Raphael Tsu born?
Raphael Tsu was born in 1925.
When was Wong Tsu born?
Wong Tsu was born in 1893.
When was Andrew Tsu born?
Andrew Tsu was born in 1885.
How tall is Irene Tsu?
Irene Tsu is 5' 4".
When did Andrew Tsu die?
Andrew Tsu died in 1986.
What does the Japanese word tsu mean?
'Tsu' as a noun means 'saliva'.
